Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Three Things For Mission

John 20:21-22 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and he said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

Jesus gives the disciples three things here at what I like to call John's version of the Great Commission. 1) He gave them Peace. They must have been extremely sad, confused and afraid. 2) He gave them a sense of sent-ness, mission - to continue the work of Jesus on earth, from the Father God to the world. 3) He gave them the Holy Spirit "for as yet they did not understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead" (v. 9). I believe that the disciples were first converted (indwelt) at this moment.

I need these three things if I am going to go on mission. I need the peace that comes only with intimacy with God in the presence of Jesus. Brad, keep pressing in - He's pleased with you. I need to be sent by God. I don't need to create my own mission or dream up my own call. I need to know that I am sent by God for the mission that He has sovereignly created, molded, sanctified and prepared me for. I need the Holy Spirit. I need to believe that He is risen from the dead, Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God and that by believing I have life in His name (v. 31) (ζωὴν - life without end, blessed life that satisfies, eternal life).